Humira

Generic name: Adalimumab

Usage of Humira

Humira is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker that reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

Humira is used to treat many inflammatory conditions in adults, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, and a skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa.

Humira is also used in adults and children to treat Crohn's disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and uveitis.

Humira side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Humira: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of lymphoma:

fever, swollen glands, night sweats, general feeling of illness;

joint and muscle pain, skin rash, easy bruising or bleeding;

pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet;

pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder; or

loss of appetite, feeling full after eating only a small amount, weight loss.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

new or worsening psoriasis (raised, silvery flaking of the skin);

a sore or bump on your skin that does not heal;

symptoms of sepsis - confusion, chills, severe drowsiness, fast heartbeats, rapid breathing, feeling very ill;

liver problems - body aches, tiredness, stomach pain, right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

lupus-like syndrome - joint pain or swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, patchy skin color that worsens in sunlight;

nerve problems - numbness, tingling, dizziness, vision problems, weakness in your arms or legs; or

signs of tuberculosis - fever with ongoing cough, weight loss (fat or muscle).

Older adults may be more likely to develop infections or cancer while using adalimumab.

Common side effects of Humira may include:

headache;

cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sneezing, sore throat;

rash; or

redness, bruising, itching, or swelling where the injection was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Humira

You should not use Humira if you are allergic to adalimumab.

Before you start using this medicine , tell your doctor if you have signs of infection--fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, tiredness, cough, bloody mucus, skin sores, diarrhea, burning when you urinate, or feeling constantly tired.

Humira should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old (or 6 years old if treating Crohn's disease). Children using this medicine should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

tuberculosis (or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis);

a chronic infection;

cancer;

hepatitis B (adalimumab can cause hepatitis B to come back or get worse);

diabetes;

heart failure;

any numbness or tingling, or a nerve-muscle disorder such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre syndrome;

an allergy to latex rubber;

if you are scheduled to have major surgery; or

if you have recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccine.

Tell your doctor where you live and if you have recently traveled or plan to travel. You may be exposed to infections that are common to certain areas of the world.

Humira may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Make sure any doctor caring for your newborn baby knows if you used adalimumab while you were pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

How to use Humira

Usual Adult Dose of Humira for Psoriatic Arthritis:

40 mg suBCutaneously every other week In some patients not taking concomitant methotrexate, the dosing interval may be increased to 40 mg every week. Methotrexate, glucocorticoids, salicylates, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, or other disease modifying agents may be given concomitantly.

Usual Adult Dose for Crohn's Disease -- Acute:

Initial dose: 160 mg subcutaneously on Day 1. The initial dose may be given as 4 injections on Day 1, or as 2 injections per day for 2 consecutive days (Days 1 and 2). Week 2: 80 mg subcutaneously on Day 15. Maintenance dose: Beginning week 4 (Day 29), 40 mg every other week. Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and/or immunomodulatory agents may be continued during treatment with adalimumab. The use of adalimumab for Crohn's disease beyond one year had not been evaluated in controlled clinical studies.

Usual Adult Dose of Humira for Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance:

Initial dose: 160 mg subcutaneously on Day 1. The initial dose may be given as 4 injections on Day 1, or as 2 injections per day for 2 consecutive days (Days 1 and 2). Week 2: 80 mg subcutaneously on Day 15. Maintenance dose: Beginning week 4 (Day 29), 40 mg every other week. Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and/or immunomodulatory agents may be continued during treatment with Humira. The use of adalimumab for Crohn's disease beyond one year had not been evaluated in controlled clinical studies.

Usual Adult Dose for Ulcerative Colitis:

Initial dose: 160 mg subcutaneously on Day 1. The initial dose may be given as 4 injections on Day 1, or as 2 injections per day for 2 consecutive days (Days 1 and 2). Week 2: 80 mg subcutaneously on Day 15. Maintenance dose: Beginning week 4 (Day 29), 40 mg every other week. Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and/or immunomodulatory agents may be continued during treatment with Humira. The use of adalimumab for Crohn's disease beyond one year had not been evaluated in controlled clinical studies.

Usual Adult Dose for Plaque Psoriasis:

Initial dose: 80 mg subcutaneously. Maintenance dose: 40 mg subcutaneously every other week, starting one week after initial dose.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis:

4 to 17 years: Limited data are available for Humira treatment in pediatric patients with a weight below 15 kg. 15 kg (33 lbs) to less than 30 kg (66 lbs): 20 mg every other week Greater than or equal to 30 kg (66 lbs): 40 mg every other week Methotrexate, glucocorticoids, salicylates, NSAIDs, or analgesics may be continued during treatment with Humira.

Warnings

Humira affects your immune system. Adalimumab can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and you may get infections more easily. Serious infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria have happened in people taking this medicine. Some people have died from these infections.

Serious infections include tuberculosis (TB). Your doctor should test you for TB before starting and during treatment with Humira.

Before or during treatment with Humira, tell your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, aches, tiredness, cough, skin sores, diarrhea, or burning when you urinate.

What other drugs will affect Humira

Some drugs should not be used together with adalimumab. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Humira, especially:

abatacept, etanercept;

anakinra;

azathioprine, 6-Mercaptopurine; or

Certolizumab, golimumab, Infliximab, rituximab.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with adalimumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.